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Tanesha Mondestin

is a Research Associate at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families.

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Tanesha Mondestin is a Research Associate at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families (CCF). Her work focuses on supporting state partners that have a focus on maternal and early childhood health. She also highlights opportunities to improve Medicaid and CHIP for young children, pregnant and postpartum women and their families.

Before joining CCF, Tanesha interned at the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. She has also worked for the CDC Foundation, Maryland Department of Health, and Baltimore County Department of Health. She has experience working with non-profit organizations such as Life of Hope, where she worked on the Haitian Women’s Birth Equity initiative to try to bridge the gap between care that migrant women receive in Brooklyn, NY. She is passionate about health equity and Black maternal health.

Tanesha earned a Master of Science in Public Health in Population, Family, and Reproductive Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her concentration was in maternal, fetal, and perinatal health. She also has Bachelor of Science degrees in Anthropology and Public Health Science at the University of Maryland College Park.

Latest

  • Maternal Health Field Lost a Courageous Leader Due to Complications of Childbirth

    On January 1, 2026, Dr. Janell Green Smith of South Carolina died from childbirth complications at 31 years of age. Dr. Green Smith was a nurse-midwife, doctor of nursing practice, adjunct professor, maternal health professional and advocate. Dr. Green Smith developed severe pre-eclampsia during her pregnancy and delivered her daughter via cesarean section in late…

  • How Can the Rural Health Transformation Fund Help Make Maternal Health Great Again?

    The passing of the HR.1 bill has threatened the vitality of rural health in America. To soften the blow, the Trump administration included a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund (RHTF). States are preparing their applications that are due on November 5th. There is a lot to unpack with the RHTF. My colleague Adam Searing…

  • States’ Maternal Mental Health Efforts Show Improvement as Need for Support Grows, Especially in Rural Areas

    The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health recently released state-by-state maternal mental health report cards that provide a snapshot of state progress addressing maternal mental health. Using measures across three domains—providers and programs, screening, and coverage—these report cards pinpoint areas of opportunity for states to improve maternal mental health. Overall, the report shows modest progress…

  • Medicaid: A Lifeline for Women’s Health Across the Lifespan

    Medicaid is a critical source of health care for millions of US women, supporting them through every stage of life. Nearly 1 in 5 women aged 19-64 rely on Medicaid or CHIP. The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions allowed states to cover all adults up to 138% FPL, covering millions more low-income women regardless of…

  • State Momentum for Maternal Health Legislation Continues: Congressional Cuts Would Turn Back the Clock

    The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of high-income countries and over 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. To improve maternal health outcomes, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act was introduced in the 117th and 118th by Representative Alma Adams and Representative Lauren Underwood, and Senator Cory Booker. The Momnibus Act is a set…